Professional Helicopter Training Flight School
for Novice and Experienced Pilots
New! We have financial aid for those that qualify (which usually means a
co-signing parent on the loan). Please fill out the
credit application
call 561 346-2816 for more details.
Testimonials: What
are students have to say about Helicopter Academy.
Are you a current or former HelicopterAcademy
student? Join us on MyHangerChat
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"Have you recently graduated flight school with
a CFI or just finished your private license and are wondering if
your flight school is right for you. Well, Helicopter Academy/Boatpix
can provide some options no other flight school can offer. I was
just such an individual just two years ago. I had graduated with
my CFII from a good school that provided all of the basics for
my advancement into the helicopter world. However, the only
thing they could not provide was a job. As most of you already
know, this presents a very big obstacle.
After searching for far too long for a job I finally found
Boatpix. It is a non-tradition way of building hours but
provides wonderful real world experience. It is not free, but
has been the best investment I have made in my helicopter
training. After completing the 100 hours of photo flight
training necessary to be safe and competent at the job, Tom
turned me lose with an R22 Mariner and my first student. Since
then, I have flown over 1200 hours and completed my ATP. None of
this would have been possible without Boatpix.
Tom McDermott provided me with free housing while I was training
and provided me with students in the busy season. He also found
me a job at the local airport during the winter months. This
coincidentally lead to a job flying tours in an R44. Also one
of Tom's connections. I now have a full time salaried position
in the South Florida area that was given to me by a former
Helicopter Academy/Boatpix graduate and instructor.
South Florida is a hot bed of helicopter action and is a great
place to live, learn, and work. Do yourself a favor and call Tom
to learn more about Boatpix/Helicopter Academy today. I still
work for Boatpix on my off flying an the R44 days because it is probably the most
fun you will ever have flying a helicopter."
Sincerely,
Brian Treptow, CFI |
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"Helicopter Academy is by far one of the best
companies I have every worked with! As a business owner, I know
the importance of customer service; and it is a shame how many
businesses and companies do not take it seriously anymore.
Helicopter Academy however, has the greatest customer service I
have ever dealt with! Tom and the instructors were more than
willing to make things happen to work with you. The training
received was also top notch! I was able to learn the R-22 and
the boat photo mission quickly thanks to well trained and easy
to get along with instructors. As a former military helicopter
pilot, I have to say that doing boat photo has been one of the
most fun helicopter experiences I have had the chance to do. It
was definitely more fun than military training, and on par with
some of the other fun stuff the military gets to do. Working
with Helicopter Academy is an experience I will never forget,
and I definitely give a solid recommendation for Helicopter
Academy. It was a pleasure working with them, I cannot wait to
fly with them some more in the future; and I hope you get the
unique opportunity to do the same."
LT Darryl Abriam
U.S. Navy |
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"I fly a AW139
in the Gulf of Mexico. Boatpix was definitely the most fun I
have had in a job and I really enjoyed the freedom and change of
pace with all of the traveling it allowed. Also, if someone has
the GOM in mind for a turbine job it really sets them up by
flying in similar conditions and a lot of the time is considered
offshore experience."
Greg Peterson, CFI |
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"Helicopter Academy/Boatpix offered me a
terrific experience that no other flight school could match at a
price that couldn't be beat. Instead of only flying traffic
patterns I was given real world experience and the confidence to
operate in a variety of places effectively. I had a blast
traveling around the country taking photos of boats. With a
guaranteed job waiting for me after flight training, Helicopter
Academy/Boatpix quickly gave me the tools I needed to begin my
career as a professional helicopter pilot. I fly a
Twinstar for the reality TV show 'Survivor'"
Ken Gray, CFI |
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"I started from another helicopter school and I
had less than 200hrs. I had my CFI but most helicopter company
demands 300 hrs or more to hire you. I contacted
HelicopterAcademy and I got to fly up until I had my 300 hrs in
no time. After this I flew as instructor and I got up to 785 hrs
in a little bit more than half a year. After this I went back to
my home country because my student visa ran out. There I took my
JAA CPL in the AS 350. Right now I'm applying for jobs in Europe
and I'm waiting for the high season spring/summer.
I had a great time flying for HelicopterAcademy and I got a lot
of hours in a short amount of time. The flying is also great
because no day is the same. You get instruction and at the same
time you get to take pictures of boats. It is real fun flying
and good for learning to handle a helicopter in a real
commercial situation.
HelicopterAcademy helped get many hours quick for a really
cheap price. Other helicopter company's it takes long time to get
up to 1000 hrs but if my visa would not have ran out I would
have 1000 hrs in no time. Its really important to get some
experience as the helicopter company's with turbine helicopters
often demands around 1000 hrs. HelicopterAcademy can give you
this in a short amount of time
All the people I talked to that was flying with
HelicopterAcademy enjoyed the flying and I also had a great time
flying whit them."
Alexander Klausen, CFI |
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"After completing my flight training I started
flying for Boatpix to build hours. The flying was great fun and
at the same time challenging. I learnt a huge amount doing the
boat contract and my flying improved enormously. In addition it
took me to a variety of locations, including Key West. Flying to
so many different locations helped to improve my flight
planning, navigation and radio skills. I left at the end of my
visa feeling that learnt more than I would have done if I’d been
based at a single airfield teaching flight maneuvers only. I
left with the 500 hours that were promised to me. I would
recommend it to anyone who wants to build hours and get the
crucial first job. I kept in touch with an operator and fly a
helicopter in Singapore."
Jonathan Beeby, CFI |
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"I worked for Helicopter Academy as a pilot and
flight instructor for about a year, and I had a great time
working there. After finishing flight training with another
school I started with Helicopter Academy to work as an
instructor and pilot. When I started working for Helicopter
Academy they arranged with housing at the location I was
stationed, which was very convenient. I was in charge of the Ft.
Lauderdale location and had students training for Private Pilot
License, Commercial Pilot License and Instrument Ratings. In
addition to training students I flew sight-seeing in the Miami
area and did photo-flights with professional photographers
taking pictures of airport terminals, golf-courses, real-estates
and boats.
The diversity made every day interesting, and you get to fly a
lot. I flew about 100 hours each month and ended up with well
above 1000 hours before I left. Maintenance issues and
inspections on the helicopters were taken care of when due as
one should expect.
Working for Helicopter Academy is a lot of fun, and as a trusted
pilot you are given a lot of responsibility from which great
results are expected. The owner and manager, Tom, is a man of
his word and a stand-up guy. Helicopter Academy is very customer
oriented and will go a long way to tailor the training to suit
the students needs."
Regards,
Svein Olufsenm CFI |
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"My flying in New York with Boatpix was not only
a great fun but also a fast and a cheap way to build up hours
and experience. Now I have a great job in Iceland as a PIC
flying turbines. The mind buildup and the hours that I got
boatpixing was a key factor for the job I have now. I would like
to thank Tom and the pilots that I flew with for a unforgettable
time and all the help during my stay with Boatpix. I fly a
turbine helicopter in Iceland.
Gudjon B. Sigurjonsson |
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"As an active duty Marine, Helicopter Academy
allowed me to affordably explore a life-long fascination and
prepare for my next career. Using the GI Bill in combination
with the 300-hour program, I was able to reach my
CFI endorsement and fly near my home in North Carolina.Mr. McDermott worked with
me to post a ship and instructor near my duty station and I have
made some quality long-term friends in the
helicopter industry. Dr. David Smith and Dave Brookes and are two
of the finest instructors I have ever known
and there is an additional wealth of knowledge shared among the
resident CFIs and students. Flying aerial
photography missions while earning your ratings is a fun way to
enhance your skills, knowledge, and logbook
simultaneously and I look forward to continued service with the
organization. I'm on a ship right now but when I return I
know I have a fun job with them.
Jay Kammerer, CFI |
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I fly a Bell 407 in Hawaii. You can
sometimes see me on the television show "Hawaii Five-O" on
camera. I had a ppl(h) and walked in to the
HelicopterAcademy office and asked for a job. They
put together a program for me and gave me free housing in
Florida. Fun times!
Josh Lang, CFI |
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‘’I started with the time building program at
Helicopter Academy with CFI and 213 hours. I built 100
hours, and they gave me job consisting of a combination of
flight instruction and photo flying. My
students learned quickly air traffic picture and airport
operation since we flew at so many different locations. I think
students taking their education at Helicopter Academy learn
valuable skills, since they are getting trained for real
missions in addition to traditional training. And best of all,
they know that they will get a job after they are done with
their CFI rating and 300 hours’’
Eivind A. Arntzen, CFI |
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“It’s a real pity I didn’t hear about Helicopter
Academy earlier, as I did all my training at another school. As
soon as I started with Helicopter Academy I had great fun and
flying with Boat Pix at the weekends is a really great way to
build time. You get to really fly the aircraft and visit lots of
great places. The travelling helps you greatly with your radio
communication learning and Cross Country flight planning which
you don’t get at a lot of schools. I loved my time at helicopter
Academy and as a result of all the experience I gained, I now
have a great job flying an S76 commercially in New York!! “
Fred Hanna - CFI |
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We offer training in the following Helicopter ratings:
Private,
Commercial,
Flight instructor,
Instrument, and
Instrument Flight Instructor.
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